Malky Mackay misses Cardiff City press conference: The full transcript

The last laugh? Mackay with assistant Kerslake earlier this season (Image: Scott Heavey)

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Cardiff owner Vincent Tan is due to fly into Britain this evening with manager

Tan has told Mackay to resign as manager of the Bluebirds, or the Malaysian will wield the axe to

Press Association Sport understands discussions will take place between club directors throughout the day, with Tan arriving later on ahead of his attendance at Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting at Liverpool.

But Mackay was set to take training, which was closed to the media, and then travel with the squad to Liverpool.

The 41-year-old Scot had been due to face the media this morning ahead of the game at Anfield, but instead it was his assistant David Kerslake who

DK : As far as we are concerned, it’s just another game. We are going to a wonderfully talented team. We have prepared this week as professionally as we can. We’re looking forward to the game.

Q : How will the players feel with all the unsettlement?

DK : The manager prepares his team in the same way every week. It’s a fantastic arena and, like we’ve enjoyed all season, putting ourselves up in a battle against the best. That will continue tomorrow.

Q : Will you be in charge tomorrow?

DK : Nobody has said anything different to me.

Q : How have things been this week?

DK : As normal. Totally as normal. We have prepared and gone through the same training sessions as we do. The players have been just as normal. Nothing has gone anything different.

Q : How has Malky coped with everything?

DK : Without being boring, it really has been a normal week for us.

Q : You’ve known Malky a long time, what is it that drives him on?

DK : I am here to talk about the Liverpool game tomorrow. I just want to talk about that.

Q : Hand on heart, can you honestly say this won’t affect the players?

DK : I don’t think it will affect them, no.

Q : It couldn’t be much tougher…

DK : They are a wonderful side and have an array of talent throughout their squad. The players have equipped themselves fantastically well all season and I’m sure they are looking forward to doing the same tomorrow.

Q : Can you sum up the atmosphere?

DK : We are looking forward to it. Anfield is a fantastic arena. We will be really tested, but we’ve done well this season. We’ve competed in every game. We will go there looking for a result.

Q : Personal note, how worried are you about your own job?

DK : Every manager and coach knows it is a precarious job. Nothing changes.

Q : You are the man who has been put in an impossible position of coming down here to face us and that is very courageous, but it doesn’t really work to sit there and say you want to talk about the Liverpool game.

The fans know what is going on and will want an explanation?

DK : Unfortunately, I’m only here to talk about the Liverpool game.

Q : Well, that’s not good enough, that’s not acceptable. Have you seen the email?

DK : As I said, I will answer all questions about the Liverpool game.

Q : How do you think Cardiff football club is seen to the wider world at the moment?

DK : If you give me a question about the football match tomorrow then I will answer.

Q : We’re very interested in the football and we’ve asked about that. We’d like to ask Malky about that, but he is not here. Can you explain why he is not here?

Cardiff press officer : We will take no more, we will leave it there

Q : Can you explain what is going on then? Whether he (pointing to Kerslake) is going to be in charge tomorrow?

You have put him in an impossible position. We have a job to do and we need some answers.

Cardiff press officer : I understand that.

Q : Can you help us please?

Cardiff press officer : Malky is unavailable to speak. The assistant manager is here to speak.

Q : Why? Is he (Malky) still in charge?

Cardiff press officer : I have spoken to Malky this morning.

Q : There’s seems to be a belief from the top right down to the bottom that everything is manipulated, but clearly that can’t happen when you have the media here asking questions asking why Malky is not here and what he has said to you

DK : Malky is unavailable. I was asked to come and speak to the press about the Liverpool game tomorrow.